Alien (1979), a classic in sci-fi history really set the stage for the Alien series and the Xenomorphs we would love to fear. Slow pacing that built tension, an android that puts it's mission above the humans it works with, and a monster that killed from the shadows. It embodied both science fiction and horror, and because of this fans love it; however it is it's sequel Aliens that games would be based off of. I mean, why wouldn't you? It carries the same creature everybody loves, it's considered an equal in terms of cinematic mastery and it's full of action! Everybody loves action games right?! If you had to choose between a slow, long movie where the enemy is hardly ever scene and a faster paced action blast that still contained the same infamous villain which would you choose? And that's the problem with previous Alien games.
Sega has tried again and again to try their Alien games, with Aliens Vs Predator (2010) a mediocre (at best only decent) first person shooter with both the Predators and Xenomorphs, and dare we even mention Aliens: Colonial Marines, a game so full of bugs that it's what most people remember from it. Both, trying to focus on Aliens and Alien Vs Predator, action focused Alien movies, far from what the original tried to do.
In a last ditch effort, Sega attempted to go a different route. How about make an Alien game....based off of Alien!?! It's such a revolutionary idea they decided to go for it. The game features the same slow pacing, tension building, and hidden monster, (even including a soundtrack made by the same folks behind the original soundtrack) all combined to create an experience that makes the original movie seem more like a chick-flick than a horror movie.
(Romantic!)
This game is not without it's faults, however. The true terror and horror come at a price, in order to get the pure terror in the game they had to use slow pacing to build it. Great for the game it wants to be, but making it unaccessible to players who need constant action and explosions to satisfy them. (*cough* COD *cough cough*) And the game's IMMENSE attention to detail in recreating the same atmosphere meant that other features got overlooked or left out. There is a survival mode, but that is it. No multiplayer, no other kinds of modes. I understand that they focused on the main game, and I'm glad for it. Just know that there is nothing else besides it and survival. (Although I think survival would have been great with multiplayer and multiple people playing survivors with one AI Alien running through)
Speaking of an AI Alien, the AI is one thing that this game has in bunches and bundles. The Alien stalks unscripted, so no two playthroughs, or survival mode, will be exactly the same. And the same goes for some of the ways you interact with the humans and androids (although there are still some set-pieces and scripted events in the campaign since...well that's how they progress the story) but after the key points it feels pretty random and do not be ashamed if you need to set the difficulty lower on your first play through. Don't fret. It's a fairly difficult game, if you struggle it means they did their job well.
The Alien stalks you, and if it sees you then....
(Howdy!)
But if it doesn't see you then you have a chance, a possibility, to slink away in the dark, hide, and live to run and hide another day. You can also build distraction devices to throw if you need to get it's attention away for a few moments (Just long enough to get to that locker, or under the desk, or in the vents. A matter of life and death)
That is the game, and as far as the story goes. It hits that surprisingly well! Instead of following Sigourney Weaver's character from the movie series it follows her daughter, who we find out...*SPOILER ALERT FOR AN ALMOST 30 YEAR OLD MOVIE*....died while Sigourney Weaver was asleep in space between Alien and Aliens. This game follows her 14 years after Alien while she looks for what happened to her Mother. A great concept that I'm surprised wasn't hit on before in games.
Overall a great experience if you can handle slow-pacing, true fear from a game,